Dreadful quality from Gibson USA.

This is from a post on Facebook. It's on the 'Gibson Les Paul' page. It's the second LP he's had, as the first one was terrible too. I can't post the link as it's a closed forum. So, here are a couple of pics. Shocking QC.

Disappointing QC for sure! But, that's been a problem (off and on) for at least the last 20 years. Some time periods,
it seems as though there is NO QC, at all. Other times, it's quite good! So...??? Another good reason to inspect carefully,
prior to any purchase, and use only reliable dealers, like Sweetwater, IF you have to buy "on-line" and "1st person" sight unseen.

My most recent Gibson purchase, was made through Sweetwater, as my normal dealer, is "off" Gibson (again), for the time being. For
several reasons, ridiculous stocking requirements, uneven shipping dates, including Gibson's lack of QC, all too often. Another troubling
Gibson tendency is, that they raise the prices, unexpectedly, way past logic, too many times. I often wonder, if that's to decrease demand,
so as to be able to "catch up" production wise? Or, if it's to just feed Henry's insatiable greed?!

To those of us who love Gibson guitars, it's (truly) a sad situation, for an old American iconic company! Hope they can get it all figured
out, and transformed, SOON! But, with all the Debt they have, and their credit rating in the basement, seems a total restructuring may
be required, at the very least.

Happy New Year, mates!

CB

This post has been edited by charlie brown: 03 January 2018 - 08:30 PM

The iconic Gibson puts out inferior products made in USA... embarrassing. Now, many of the Asian made instruments far surpasses the work quality of Gibson...albeit materials may not be comparable. Epi generally produces better made products.

I own a few early '60s Gibson. You can tell it is not machine made or precisely manufactured; but you can tell the care was there to provide a nice finished hand made product.

Maybe time will come when a Chinese company will take over the Gibson name! ....sad.

The iconic Gibson puts out inferior products made in USA... embarrassing. Now, many of the Asian made instruments far surpasses the work quality of Gibson...albeit materials may not be comparable. Epi generally produces better made products.

I own a few early '60s Gibson. You can tell it is not machine made or precisely manufactured; but you can tell the care was there to provide a nice finished hand made product.

Maybe time will come when a Chinese company will take over the Gibson name! ....sad.

However, internet/forums are usually dominated by complaints.

How sad, but possibly true some day about a take over. Ya' never know.

I don't think it's generally the build. It's the painting/masking/scraping section. I've seen some videos of wrong neck fitment recently though. The bridge was all the way down and the action was still too high. Gibson should stamp these as seconds and sell them cheaper to enable those that can't afford a top price to manage to get a Gibson. Is some are coming out of the factory perfect (as posts here say), get rid of those staff. But for them to leave the factory like this shows that the management don't care. I'm shocked that some people on Facebook think it's ok and we shoud just live with the faults. I suppose these people never do housework and their grass is a foot long too!

Almost all of my guitar purchases have been either new or used, from a store, where I've had my hands on it first. I play it first without an amp. Then play with an amp. Then, I look the guitar over thoroughly and then play it some more without the amp. If it gets past the first 5 minutes, sounds great through the amp and has no problems or glaring construction issues, and is within my budget at the time, it might come home with me if I really want it.

Thinks like the quality issues here never should have left the factory that way. I would have shown the people at the store the issues and gotten a replacement. As in any industry, you have people who love their job and take it seriously and do their best and some that don't. And, since they are mostly handmade, or at least the finish is, people have good days and bad days and some just don't care. I'll take a few small quality issues if it plays and sounds incredible.

This is more proof that it isn't a good idea to purchase a $4,000 guitar sight unseen from the internet.

This guitar should have never left the factory like that...but it also the retailer should have noticed this...and finally the consumer, if this were in a traditional store, would notice this and never bring it home.

I've own & have owned several Gibsons & Epiphones most of my life. Starting with a Used Pawn Shop 50's LP Jr., a '59 ES345 & many others over the years.

Recently I bought a new Gibson Memphis Blacktop ES Les Paul from Sweetwater. I'm a long time Customer. It had 2 poorly filled & finished Tuner holes drilled in the wrong place on the Headstock. Being Black they stood out like a sore thumb to me. I don't know how Sweetwater could have missed that during their 55 point Inspection. They were great. I returned it & they sent me another one.

I finally got around to doing a Set up & the Truss Rod Tool won't fit on the Truss Rod Nut. I tried 3 different Tools from 3 of my other Gibsons. 2 Les Paul's & my Epi Casino. None of them fit. I called Gibson & they said it might be excess Lacquer in the cavity. But, before perusing a repair try another Truss Rod a Tool. They were great & sent me one. It doesn't fit either.

I called both Sweetwater & Gibson & both offered to. Have me ship the Guitar back for Repair. I decided to send it to Gibson Memphis. That was yesterday.

My Point, if you buy a new Gibson & it isn't right seek Remedy. Either the Seller or Gibson. Don't except poor Craftsmanship. Make them make it right. Nothing is perfect. It's up to us to do it..

Incidentally, I really like the Guitar & can't wait to get it back, properly Repaired, Set up & ready to Play!

Last year, I bought a SG CM Black that the nut wasn't aligned with the fretboard and hung a few millimeters off one side of the neck and was pushed in the corresponding distance on the other. There was no QC on that one. I also bought a Flying V that the jack was wired backwards on. No testing of that one either by the fine folks of Gibson. How do these things even happen? on the SG CM Black and the V, I had Gibson repair them. If I buy online now, I really need to see pictures of the actual instrument I am buying (on Gibsons only). On the latest 2 Gibsons I bought online, a Les Paul from American Musical and a RD Artist from Sweetwater, both retailers provided me with pictures in advance so I knew what I was getting.

Equipment:
I have guitars, amps, pedals, cables, various other things and a strong affinity for short signature lines. . .